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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 120 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: stock · staff · tube · trunk · rash · wake · club · mug

  1. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  3. The ________________ market has crashed.
  4. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  5. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  6. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  7. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  8. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  13. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  14. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  17. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  18. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  19. I'll be taking the ________________.
  20. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  23. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. wake — a trail
  3. stock — shares
  4. tube — a container
  5. wake — before a funeral
  6. staff — a stick
  7. club — for golf
  8. club — a group
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. staff — employees
  11. rash — hasty
  12. stock — a soup base
  13. wake — to stop sleeping
  14. rash — a series
  15. mug — to rob
  16. stock — goods
  17. trunk — of a car
  18. trunk — of an elephant
  19. tube — the underground
  20. staff — employees
  21. mug — a face
  22. club — for dancing
  23. tube — in a tire
  24. mug — a cup

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com